Setting the Record Straight: Cargill and Tripa Forest Controversy

Although there are no major fires still tearing through the Tripa peat forest in Sumatra — the densest remaining Sumatran orangutan habitat in the world — updates from our allies on the ground tell us that Tripa is still gravely at risk. With one or two small fires still breaking out each day, combined with ongoing [...]

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What Do Cargill’s Recent Palm Oil Commitments Mean For Its Customers?

“Whether we like it or not it is very largely our industry which is providing the economic incentives for individuals and companies to chop down trees… Between us, we spend billions of dollars buying these commodities. We can make a difference if we buy them differently and better.” – A senior Unilever executive in a [...]

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Palm Oil’s Effects On Communities Around The World

Did you see The New York Times Op-Ed on Saturday titled “The World Bank’s Palm Oil Mistake“? I sure did. The author, Thompson Ayodele, provided a narrow perspective on the World Bank’s recent decision to continue it’s freeze on new lending to palm oil projects around the world until it’s framework and strategy is clarified. [...]

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Krafting a New Story on Palm Oil

For those following the recent developments of palm oil in the news, you know that this hot commodity is becoming increasingly controversial and companies are starting to either push to get the tropical oil out of their supply chain altogether or to adopt a strong palm policy to ensure they are not contributing to rainforest [...]

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Will Cargill Fall for the Great Sinar Mas Greenwash?

After months of waiting for the results of the Sinar Mas “audit,” the controversial findings are finally public and it’s now up to Cargill executives to decide how they will proceed, i. e. whether or not to sever ties with the company known for its rainforest destruction and unsustainable palm oil practices. Read our open [...]

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Cargill’s New Palm Oil Deal for Unilever: Can It Be Called Sustainable?

The growing international focus on companies that produce, trade, or use palm oil is quickly separating out the market leaders, like Unilever and Nestle, from companies that are taking an active role in adopting policies to safeguard their climate footprint, from the rainforest destroyers (i.e. Cargill and General Mills).

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Cargill waits for RSPO while Sinar Mas destroys forests

Last week Nestle joined the ranks of other major food conglomerates to cancel their palm oil contracts from Sinar Mas, Indonesia’s largest palm oil and wood pulp producer and notorious rainforest destroyer. Responding to the movements against Sinar Mas, Cargill also made an announcement on Sinar Mas last week; unfortunately Cargill chose to delay action [...]

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Unilever, world’s largest palm oil buyer, shows leadership. Will Cargill?

Today Unilever, the  consumer goods giant that purchases 4% of the world’s palm oil, has finally lived up to the commitments they made almost two years ago to remove rainforest destruction, human rights violations, and climate change chaos from their palm oil supply chain. Under intense pressure from Greenpeace and allies, Unilever has canceled their [...]

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